Page 682 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

looking for minerals in Arabia. He was in Arab kit as he had no other. I liked him and his conversation was very interesting,
he talked much about Jedda which is his headquarters and where his wife is now. He said how mischievous the Soviet
Legation is and how it takes every opportunity to stir up trouble between the Arabs and the English. His name was Twitchell.

Saturday [9 January]

Court, during one case the plaintiff said that if he did not win he would kill himself or go mad, so we offered to send him to the
asylum at once. Had a lot of big cases as it is the last court before Ramadan. The two seaplanes with Sasoon arrived and left
again within about an hour. I didnt see him at all. Cold day. Had a meeting in the afternoon with Prior and Shaikhs Abdulla
and Sulman at the Agency about the Government taking over the administration of estates, it is a big subject and one I have
been pressing for some time. The two Shaikhs were very sensible though Sulman rather overdid the platitudes about widows
and orphans. Went out for a drive and then to the de Greniers where I talked to him about economies in the Customs and then
Bridge.

Sunday lst of Ramadan [10 January]
An easy day in the office, went out with the dogs in the afternoon but didnt put up any hares, still very cold so that we need a
fire all the afternoon.

Sunday 10th January 1932 lst Day of Ramadan 1350

Everyone in the office seemed to be very weary and off colour, but quite a lot of people came in to see me as I suppose they all
thought that nobody else would come. Ramadan is to me quite a pleasant month as there is so little work.

Monday [11 January]

Cold day, people look very miserable here in the cold weather especially during Ramadan when they are not allowed any food
or drink during the day. Worked at accounts most of the morning and M went up to the fort to play Bridge. In the afternoon
we drove out to Senobis and I called on the old Kadi with the intention of persuading him to organise a petition calling on the
Government to take over the supervision of the administration of estates, in fact to start a sort of Public Trustee department. I
have been pushing this idea for some years and we are now going to try and get it through so some support from the public
would be a great help in arguing with the Kadis who will certainly oppose it. Wrote a letter to the Shaikh about money affairs
telling him how badly we are doing but I dont suppose he will pay any attention to it, as usual. M went to tea with the Steeles
who had a childrens party and later on Prior brought his guests, people called Gregory, in to call. The man is in the Police in
Karachi and rather a pretty wife, I thought him dull but liked her, she is very lame as she had an operation to her leg lately.
They are on their way home on leave, or retirement, Prior knew them quite well in India and so asked them to stay.